THE TIMARU AND GLADSTONE BOARD OF WORKS.

Evening Star, Issue 4298, 5 December 1876, Page 4

THE TIMARU AND GLADSTONE BOARD OF WORKS.

Mr E. H. Tate writes as follows to the ‘ Tim am Herald “Now that the last meeting of the Timaru and Gladstone Board of Works has been held, and it is about to give place to the more perfect scheme of local government which has been matured, it may be of interest to mark what this Board has been enabled to accomplish in its existence of nearly nine years. The Timaru and Gladstone Board or Works was constituted by Act of General Assembly in ISO 7, and held its first meeting on 12th December, 1867. It was endowed with L 30,000 from the General Government, and with one-fourth of the land sales in its district, commencing from March, 1868. Since that time till now the Board’s receipts have been— From General Government—proceeds of loan £28,656 One-fourth of laud sales received 244,366 Provincial Government 165,338 Interest received from other sources 12,605 £450,965 This has been expended as follows : Distributed to the Road Boards and Municipality £238,466 Expended on works throughout the district 205.029 Reserved for harbor works ... 6,020 Cost of management by the Board 1,450 £450,965 “The Board has constructed twentysix miles of railway at a cost of about L3,5d0 the mile ] it has built bridges across the Rangitata, Orari, Waihi, Kakahu, Tengawai, Opihi, Temuka, Pareora, Otaio, Hook, and Waihou rivers, and the Saltwater creek; it built the first part of the Hospital, surveyed the projected Pareora water-race, .constructed roads in the Temuka district, and essayed the commencement' of the breakwater j it has carried on the Government Landing Service ; it has made ferries in the Mount Cook district. All these works have been carried out successfully except the Breakwater beton, and that might have been now standing but for the unfortunate death of its projector, Mr Balfour, almost as soon, as it was begun. The expense which the Board has incurred in its management of these works has been insignifeint.

Mr B. B. Lux more was the first chairman, and he continued in office until a few months back, when he was succeeded by Mr T. \V. Hall.

No doubt there are many imperfections to be noted in the working of the Board ; but its members and the district which it has represented can make this boast, that its business was always conducted impartially, that it kept its hands clean, and that it never committed or sanctioned a job knowingly, that it always considered the trust committed to its charge as sacred ; and that no matter what pressure might be put upon it, it always devoted its funds to public purposes for the benefit of the district as a whole. This part of the Colony may have a brilliant future; but the history of the Timaru and Gladstone Board of Works will not shame it, for it has proved that local institutions can tje worked by local men with honesty, with judgment, and with success.